Wheeled suitcase

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a suitcase which comprises two case halves (3,4) each having a main surface (2) with a carrying handle (5) secured on the upper side (6) of one case half (4), casters (16) disposed at corners (12,14) at one end (8) of the base (10), the casters (16) projecting relative to the base (10) and the adjacent first vertical narrow side (18) of the case halves, and with a pulling handle (22) which is disposed diagonally opposite the casters (16) in the upper region of the second vertical narrow side (10) of the case halves (3,4). According to the invention, disposed at each upper corner (24,26) of the first vertical narrow side (18) is a guide roller (30) which can pivot about an axis (28) parallel with the upper side (6) of the case halves (3,4), the guide roller (30) having at least one caster (32, 34) and the pivot axis (28) being at a spacing of at most approximately 25 mm, and preferably at most 20 mm, from the main surface (2) and/or the upper side (6) of the respective case half (3,4).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a suitcase is known, for example, from DE 33 07 838, EP 0 175 022 Aand EP 0 247 321 A.

Furthermore, suitcases are known which are provided, at the frontal facethereof, with guide roller inserts comprising a small guide rollerhaving a diameter of approximately 30 mm. These guide rollers arearranged in a recessed manner in a casing embedded in the frontal faceof the suitcase. The disadvantage of the known guide roller consists intheir being arranged at a greater distance from the main surfaces of thesuitcase, whereby the base width between the two guide rollers is small.In connection with the small diameter of the guide rollers, the suitcasehas a strong tendency to tilt, even in the case of a minor unevenness ofa floor, which tendency requires an increased attention when rolling thesuitcase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object to improve a suitcase of the kindmentioned above so that it can be guided in a stable manner withouttilting, even when rolling in an upright position.

Advantageously, the invention provides that a guide roller is arrangedwith at least one caster on each of the upper corners of the firstvertical narrow side of the suitcase, the rotational axis of the guideroller having a distance from the main surface of the corresponding casehalf and from the upper surface of the case half which amounts to amaximum of 2.5 cm, preferably a maximum of 2 cm.

The arrangement of the rotational axis of the guide roller with a smalldistance from the upper surface of the suitcase and from the mainsurface of the suitcase causes a base width as wide as possible to beformed between the two guide rollers on the corners of the suitcase,which base width increases the stability of the suitcase. Apart fromthat, the tendency to tilt is reduced by the position of the rotationalaxis of the guide rollers relative to the center of gravity of thesuitcase.

The rotational axis of the casters extends parallel to the verticalnarrow side of the suitcase at a distance to the rotational axis of theguide roller. This offsetting of the axes causes the guide roller to beeasily steerable due to the lever forces acting thereupon.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the at leastone caster of the guide roller has a diameter of approximately 35 to 70mm, preferably 40 to 60 mm. The use of a larger caster also reduces thetendency to tilt in the case of smaller ground beams and obstacles.

The projecting length of the at least one caster relative to the planeof the first vertical narrow side amounts to approximately 15 mm. In thecase of such a distance, on the one hand, smaller obstacles can still becrossed without the suitcase touching down, on the other hand, the guideroller does not project beyond the vertical narrow side as far as to bedisturbing in the normal position of the suitcase.

Preferably, the guide roller comprises two parallel coaxially arrangedcasters, the running planes thereof extending at the same distance fromthe rotational axis of the guide roller. Such a guide roller providesthe suitcase with a higher stability and reduces the danger of thesuitcase tilting to the side.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the guide roller is provided in acasing comprising a flange for attachment to the main surface of theupper side and the first vertical narrow side. Within the casing, arecess is provided in which the guide roller is mounted to be arrangedin a recessed manner and can be pivoted freely.

There now follows a more detailed description of an exemplary embodimentof the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a suitcase according to the invention with a set of castersand a set of guide rollers,

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view onto the vertical narrow side of thesuitcase provided with rollers,

FIG. 3 shows a suitcase positioned upright and being movable on thecasters,

FIG. 4 shows a view of a suitcase corner provided with guide rollers, inthe direction indicated in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 shows a view of the same suitcase corner in the directionindicated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The suitcase shown in FIG. 1 consists of two case halves 3,4 eachcomprising a main surface 2 and each comprising a frame 7 adapted toeach other. A carrying handle 5 is secured approximately in the centerof the horizontal upper side 6 of the suitcase on the case half 4. Onthe lower end, the usually horizontal base 10 of the suitcase extendsparallel to the upper side 6, casters 16 being arranged on the suitcasecorners 12,14 on the one end 8 of the base, which casters projectrelative to the base 10 and the adjacent first, normally vertical narrowside 18 of the case halves 3,4. The casters 16 rotate about a rigidrotational axis extending parallel to the base 10 and the narrow side18. In the upper region of the second vertical narrow side 20, aswing-out pulling handle 22 is disposed approximately diagonallyopposite the casters 16, the handle section of which handle extendsparallel to the narrow side 20 and the upper side 6. A corner protection15 is provided on each of the upper and lower corners of the usuallyvertical second narrow side 20.

On each of the upper suitcase corners 24,26 of the first vertical narrowside 18, a guide roller 30 pivotable about a rotational axis 28 parallelto the upper side 6 of the case halves 3,4 and comprising at least onecaster 32,34 is provided. The rotational axis 28 has a small distance(a) from the main surface 2 and a small distance (b) from the upper side6 of the respective case halves 3,4. This distance amounts to a maximumof about 25 mm, preferably to a maximum of 20 mm.

The guide roller 30 consists of a guide roller housing 48 pivotableabout a rotational axis 28 parallel to the upper side 6 of the suitcase.Two casters 32, 34 arranged at a distance from each other are pivoted ona rotational axis 46 orthogonal to the rotational axis 28 and are offsetrelative to the rotational axis 28 by a distance (c). The distance (a)of the rotational axis 28 relative to the main surface 2 and thedistance (b) of the rotational axis 28 relative to the upper side 6 arepreferably equal.

In the case of an especially preferred exemplary embodiment, thediameter (e) of the casters 32,34 amounts to 50 mm. The mutual distanceof the guide rollers amounts to 30 mm, while the projection (d) of thecasters 32,34 relative to the first vertical narrow side 18 amounts toabout 15 mm. The distances (a),(b) amount to about 20 to 25 mm.

The guide roller housing 48 is connected to a casing 40 via a fixed pegwith a flange 42, the flange 42 being connected to the main surface 2 ofthe upper side 6 and the first vertical narrow side 18 of the twosuitcase halves 3,4 via rivets 50. For this purpose, a correspondingrecess is formed in the suitcase walls on the upper suitcase corners24,26. The casing 40 for the guide roller 30 comprises a recess 44 inwhich the guide roller 30 is arranged in a recessed manner, so that itonly projects beyond the vertical narrow side 18, for example in theposition represented in the Figures. The guide roller 30 is freelypivotable within the recess 44.

It is evident that the guide rollers 30 can also be arranged without thecasing 40 in the case halves 24,26 in a recess corresponding to therecess 44, if the case halves 3,4 are designed correspondingly.

The small distance (a) between the rotational axis 28 and the mainsurface 2 as well as the offset arrangement of the casters 32 relativeto the rotational axis 28 allow for a base width of support of thesuitcase practically extending across the entire width of the narrowside 18 of the suitcase. If the suitcase is positioned upright so as torun on the two casters 16 and the two guide rollers 30, a high stabilitywithout tilting is ensured, which is even improved by using largecasters 32,34. The guide rollers 30 with two casters 32,34 have theproperty to rotate without strong resistance so that the suitcase can beguided very easily and comfortably by means of the swing-out handle 22when in the upright position, without an increased danger of tilting inthe case of a lesser unevenness of the ground surface and smallerobstacles.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallyillustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minorvariations may be made in the apparatus without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A suitcase comprising two case halves (3, 4)having a main surface (2), a first vertical narrow side (18), a secondvertical narrow side (20), a base (10) and an upper side (6); a carryinghandle (5) on one of the case halves (3, 4) on the upper side (6),casters (16) arranged on one end (8) of the base (10) at suitcasecorners (12, 14), said casters (16) project relative to the adjacentfirst vertical narrow side (18) of the case halves (3, 4), a handle (22)arranged at an area of the second vertical narrow side (20) of the casehalves (3, 4), one guide roller (30) pivotable about a rotational axis(28) parallel to the upper side (6) of each of the case halves (3, 4) inassociated recesses, each guide roller (30) having at least one caster(32, 34) rotatable about a horizontal axis (46) and being arranged atupper suitcase corners (24, 26) of the first vertical narrow side (18),the distance (a) of the rotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30)from the main surface (2) and the distance (b) of the rotational axis(28) from the upper side (6) of the corresponding case halves (3, 4) aresmaller than the diameter of the guide roller (30) and amount to amaximum of 25 mm.
 2. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein therelation of the distance (a) or (b) of the rotational axis (28) to thediameter of the guide roller (30) amounts to about 0.3 to 0.7.
 3. Thesuitcase as defined in claim 2 wherein the distances (a, b) amount to amaximum of 20 mm.
 4. The suitcase as defined in claim 3 wherein therotational axis (46) of the at least one caster (32, 34) extendsparallel to the first narrow side (18) at a distance from the rotationalaxis (28).
 5. The suitcase as defined in claim 2 wherein the rotationalaxis (46) of the at least one caster (32, 34) extends parallel to thefirst narrow side (18) at a distance from the rotational axis (28). 6.The suitcase as defined in claim 2 wherein the guide roller (30)includes two parallel casters (32, 34) mounted coaxially and definingrunning planes (36, 38) which extend the same distance from therotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30).
 7. The suitcase asdefined in claim 2 wherein the guide roller (30) is mounted in a casing(40) including a connection flange (42) for the main surface (2), theupper side (6) and the first vertical narrow side (18), and a recess(44) in which the guide roller (30) is housed the guide roller (30) ishoused, and the guide roller (30) projects beyond the first verticalnarrow side (18) by a predetermined amount corresponding substantiallyto the amount of projection of the casters (16).
 8. The suitcase asdefined in claim 2 wherein the rotational axis (46) of the casters (32,34) is spaced a distance from the orthogonally extending rotational axis(28) of the guide roller (30) of about 15 to 25 mm.
 9. The suitcase asdefined in claim 1 wherein the distances (a, b) amount to a maximum of20 mm.
 10. The suitcase as defined in claim 9 wherein the rotationalaxis (46) of the at least one caster (32, 34) extends parallel to thefirst narrow side (18) at a distance from the rotational axis (28). 11.The suitcase as defined in claim 9 wherein the guide roller (30)includes two parallel casters (32, 34) mounted coaxially and definingrunning planes (36, 38) which extend the same distance from therotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30).
 12. The suitcase asdefined in claim 9 wherein the guide roller (30) is mounted in a casing(40) including a connection flange (42) for the main surface (2), theupper side (6) and the first vertical narrow side (18), a recess (44) inwhich the guide roller (30) is housed, and the guide roller (30)projects beyond the first vertical narrow side (18) by a predeterminedamount corresponding substantially to the amount of projection of thecasters (16).
 13. The suitcase as defined in claim 9 wherein therotational axis (46) of the casters (32, 34) is spaced a distance fromthe orthogonally extending rotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30)of about 15 to 25 mm.
 14. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein therotational axis (46) of the at least one caster (32, 34) extendsparallel to the first narrow side (18) at a distance from the rotationalaxis (28).
 15. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein the at leastone caster (32, 34) of the guide roller (30) has a diameter of about 35to 70 mm.
 16. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein the projectionamount of the at least one caster (32, 34) of the guide roller (30)relative to the first vertical narrow side (18) amounts to about 12 to20 mm.
 17. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide roller(30) includes two parallel casters (32, 34) mounted coaxially anddefining running planes (36, 38) which extend the same distance from therotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30).
 18. The suitcase asdefined in claim 1 wherein the guide roller (30) is mounted in a casing(40) including a connection flange (42) for the main surface (2), theupper side (6) and the first vertical narrow side (18), a recess (44) inwhich the guide roller (30) is housed, and the guide roller (30)projects beyond the first vertical narrow side (18) by a predeterminedamount corresponding substantially to the amount of projection of thecasters (16).
 19. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein therotational axis (46) of the casters (32, 34) is spaced a distance fromthe orthogonally extending rotational axis (28) of the guide roller (30)of about 15 to 25 mm.
 20. The suitcase as defined in claim 1 wherein thehandle (22) in the upper region of the second vertical narrow side (20)of the case halves (3, 4) is disposed diagonally opposite thefirst-mentioned casters (16).